A pair of Moose Jaw Warriors are a little over a month away from receiving their first experience in the Hockey Canada Program of Excellence.
Defenceman Marek Howell and forward Lynden Lakovic were named to the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge on Tuesday, marking what will be the first experience for both players wearing the maple leaf in international competition.
“This is a great accomplishment for Lynden and Marek and shows how far they have come with their development,” Warriors general manager Jason Ripplinger said. “This will give them more experience and will help them grow as players and as people. We wish them all the best.”
Lakovic will have the extra benefit of playing for a familiar face behind the bench -- Warriors head coach Mark O’Leary will serve as the head coach for Lakovic’s Team Black, while Howell will play for Team White in the tournament.
Howell was selected by the Warriors in the first round, 16th overall in the 2021 Western Hockey League Prospects Draft after coming off a season where he put up eight goals and 14 points for the Calgary Royals in the Alberta Elite Hockey League U18 division.
The 6-foot-3, 187-pound Calgary product had a goal and two points in five games last season and so far in the 2022-23 campaign has a goal and two points in nine games.
Lakovic was picked by the Warriors in the second round, 27th overall in the 2021 WHL Draft and like Howell saw action last season, making his debut for Moose Jaw in the final game of the campaign. He has two goals in eight games so far this season.
The 6-foot-5, 174-pound Kelowna product put up 18 goals and 27 points in 33 games with West Vancouver Academy U18 Prep prior to the Prospects Draft and even suited up with the West Kelowna Warriors of the BCHL for a pair of games as a 15-year-old.
The World Under-17 Hockey Challenge opens on Thursday, Nov. 3 and runs through Saturday, Nov. 12. Howell and Canada White take on Sweden to open the tournament, while Lakovic, O’Leary and Canada Black have a showdown with Canada Red to kick-off the week, with both games on Nov. 3.
